The 21st Show

Last month, the state Department of Public Health put out a comprehensive report on alcohol use in Illinois. A public health expert and an alcohol researcher discuss the findings and what they mean for our health.  The 21st Show is Illinois' statewide weekday public radio talk show, connecting Illinois and bringing you the news, culture, and stories that matter to the 21st state. Have th...

Illinois' grocery tax officially expired at the start of this year. But many Illinoisans are still paying that tax. The money from the grocery tax went to local governments and many of them have responded by re-imposing the tax through their village boards or city councils.

A new year means new laws are now in effect across Illinois from criminal justice and law enforcement, education and schools to gun control. An Illinois Public Radio reporter highlights several new laws that Illinoisans might see play out in their daily life. The 21st Show is Illinois' statewide weekday public radio talk show, connecting Illinois and bringing you the news, culture, and storie...

Five years ago today, a mob stormed the United States Capitol committing many violent acts. Laura K. Field has been studying what led up to January 6th — not just the rally and the riot, but the ideas behind “stop the steal” in particular and the MAGA movement in general. She discusses her new book, "Furious Minds: The Making of the MAGA New Right." The 21st Show is Illinois' statewide weekda...

Today, we begin a series of conversations on existential risks to humankind — such as nuclear war, global warming and artificial intelligence. Those dangers are regularly explored by the “Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists”, which was founded 80 years ago in Chicago.  The 21st Show is Illinois' statewide weekday public radio talk show, connecting Illinois and bringing you the news, cultur...

We are going to take a moment and listen back to the news and highlights that made 2025 the year that it was. That includes the good, the bad, the inspiring and the tragic, local, national, and international stories as covered on The 21st Show.  The 21st Show is Illinois' statewide weekday public radio talk show, connecting Illinois and bringing you the news, culture, and stories th...

Eighty years ago at a school in Reims, France, German Army Field Marshall Jodl signed a five paragraph “Act of Military Surrender.” The Russians wanted the surrender documents signed again, in Berlin, and that happened the next day, May 8, 1945. It would be known as V-E — Victory in Europe.  A historian and author who has written about World War II joins the program. The 21st Show i...

Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, novelist Shelby Van Pelt now makes her home in Wheaton, Illinois. Her debut novel, "Remarkably Bright Creatures," has been a huge hit, reportedly selling more than two million copies. It's also being made into a movie by Netflix. We'll talk with Van Pelt about her life and work.

Fraud is all around us, from pyramid schemes to spam phone calls. Illinois-based forensic accountant Kelly Richmond Pope writes about why people do it — and how we can better protect ourselves — in her book “Fool Me Once: Scams, Stories and Secrets from the Trillion Dollar Fraud Industry.”

Dick Van Dyke is an accomplished actor, singer, and comedian. He celebrated his 100th birthday over the weekend. Van Dyke also grew up in Danville, Illinois. We discuss his life, career, and legacy. 

As 2025 approches its end, two film critics look back at all the different movies that were released this year. The 21st Show is Illinois' statewide weekday public radio talk show, connecting Illinois and bringing you the news, culture, and stories that matter to the 21st state. Have thoughts on the show or one of our episodes, or want to share an idea for something we should talk about? Send us a...

Smartphones have revolutionized our lives and also changed family dynamics as children are more engaged with their screens these days. An expert who specializes in human developement and family studies gives his take on smartphones and families.    The 21st Show is Illinois' statewide weekday public radio talk show, connecting Illinois and bringing you the news, culture, and stories that...

SCS Software, the makers of American Truck Simulator, is soon releasing an expansion for the game that highlights several cities across Illinois, including Chicago, Champaign, Peoria, Quincy, Moline, Rockford, several interstates and Davenport, Iowa.   The 21st Show is Illinois' statewide weekday public radio talk show, connecting Illinois and bringing you the news, culture, and stories that...

Last week, President Trump announced a $12 billion payment package for American farmers. The money is meant to offset losses from the ongoing trade war with China — which has hit soybean growers especially hard.    The 21st Show is Illinois' statewide weekday public radio talk show, connecting Illinois and bringing you the news, culture, and stories that matter to the 21st state. H...

U.S. Secretatry of State Marco Rubio says a Biden-era switch to the font Calibri — meant to be more accessible to more readers — was another instance of too much focus on DEI. He has ordered a return to Times New Roman, the old Microsoft Office classic. We’ll talk about that with Ellen Lupton, the author of a definitive, bestselling book on typographic design.

Lloyd Randall has been challenging the authorities in Danville, Illinois over racial disparities in traffic stops. Data from the Illinois Department of Transportation shows that in 2024, although Black motorists represent just 20 percent of Danville's driving population, they were 58 percent of the traffic stops. We’ll talk with Randall, a reporter who’s covered this issue, and an advocate for civ...

How has being from the Midwest influenced some of our best writers? A collection of short essays seeks to answer this question.   The 21st Show is Illinois' statewide weekday public radio talk show, connecting Illinois and bringing you the news, culture, and stories that matter to the 21st state. Have thoughts on the show or one of our episodes, or want to share an idea for something we shoul...

Early Voting starts in less than two months for primary elections, which will decide whose names make it onto next fall’s ballots. We’ll talk about what’s happening from the governor’s race to Congressional campaigns across the state.   The 21st Show is Illinois' statewide weekday public radio talk show, connecting Illinois and bringing you the news, culture, and stori...

The Director of Get Covered Illinois discusses how to navigate the marketplace and answers questions about qualifications, deadlines, and available plans. 

Health insurance is getting more expensive next year. Costs are rising for people on employer plans, Medicare, and especially for those who buy coverage through the Affordable Care Act marketplace.   The 21st Show is Illinois' statewide weekday public radio talk show, connecting Illinois and bringing you the news, culture, and stories that matter to the 21st state. Have thoughts on the show o...

The issue of abortion is often framed in religious terms usually by people who oppose the procedure. However, Illinois philosopher Peter Wenz says there are religious arguments in favor of abortion. His new book is called “Abortion Rights as the Free Exercise of Religion: The Constitutional Case for Choice". Wenz joins the program today.   The 21st Show is Illinois' statewide weekday pu...

Is the U.S. facing an “epidemic of loneliness?"   The 21st Show is Illinois' statewide weekday public radio talk show, connecting Illinois and bringing you the news, culture, and stories that matter to the 21st state. Have thoughts on the show or one of our episodes, or want to share an idea for something we should talk about? Send us an email: talk@21stshow.org. If you'd like to have y...

A recent survey from the American Psychological Association estimates half of adults in the U.S. say they lack companionship or are isolated from others, at least some of the time. What difference does connection make for a population whose health is especially vulnerable such as older adults? What can seniors do to expand their social networks?   The 21st Show is Illinois' statewide wee...

The penny is history, and retailers across the country are trying to figure out how to adapt. Meanwhile, a settlement between credit card companies and merchants could mean new fees, or even declined cards, at the checkout. We’ll talk about what it all means for the way we pay.

Philip A. Wallach is the author of the book "Why Congress", which was released in 2023 and is still relevant today. In the book, Wallach argues that the future of American constitutional democracy depends not on better presidential candidates or more ethical judges, but on Congress getting its act together.   The 21st Show is Illinois' statewide weekday public radio talk show, connecting...